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Guyton couple is twice lucky

A Guyton husband and wife each won a trip to a college bowl game in the Georgia Lottery’s KENO! Gridiron Getaway promotion. Mary and Joseph Wierbicki entered the contest on Facebook and were selected randomly to win two of three bowl game vacations.

Mary won a trip to the Jan. 3 bowl game in New Orleans, while Joseph won a trip to the Jan 4. bowl game in Miami.

Players could enter the drawing by registering KENO! tickets on the state Lottery’s Facebook page.

Lottery spokeswoman Kimberly Starks said people could enter the contest an unlimited number of times, and just how many times the Wierbickis entered wasn’t immediately available.

But the contest for the Miami bowl game had 3,349 entries and the one for the New Orleans game had 3,476 entries.

The Wierbickis will have to do some fast traveling, but they intend to go to both games.

Each vacation includes airfare, hotel accommodations, game tickets, ground transportation and $500 spending cash. Each prize is valued at $3,700.

“It’s really great,” said Joseph Wierbicki, 67. “I almost jumped out of my chair when I got the news.”

Mary Wierbicki called the win “very unique.” “We are pleased to be a part of this,” she said.

The couple, married 27 years, have five adult children, 22 grandchildren, one great-granddaughter and another expected next spring.

Joseph Penteado of Alpharetta won the third trip to the Jan. 2 bowl game in Glendale, Ariz.